Noblis SETA technical support for DHS Screening at Speed AI/ML efforts — a federal contract (USAspending)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded Noblis about $3.16 million for technical support to its Screening at Speed program's AI/ML (artificial intelligence and machine learning) efforts, aimed at making security screening at airports and similar settings faster and more accurate.
Contract key facts
- RecipientNOBLIS, INC.
- Contract value$3,158,505 (≈$3.2M)
- Awarding agencyDepartment of Homeland Security
- Awarding sub-agencyOffice of Procurement Operations
- Award typeDELIVERY ORDER
- Period of performance2020-09-25 〜 2023-09-27
- Contract ID (PIID)70RSAT20FR0000147
Contract scope (original)
SETA SUPPORT FOR SCREENING AT SPEED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE/MACHINE LEARNING (AI/ML) EFFORTS.
Key points
- A delivery order (an individual order under an umbrella contract) worth about $3.16 million, awarded by the DHS Office of Procurement Operations to the research nonprofit Noblis.
- Covers AI/ML (artificial intelligence and machine learning) efforts within Screening at Speed, a program aimed at faster and more accurate security screening.
- Noblis's role is SETA (Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance) — expert support for the government's technical decisions, not development of the screening AI/ML itself.
- The period of performance runs from September 25, 2020 to September 27, 2023, roughly three years.
- The specific technologies and outcomes are not stated in the source data.
Security screening sits at the meeting point of two competing demands: keeping people safe and keeping the experience fast and convenient. DHS's Screening at Speed program aims to advance both at once, making screening at airports and similar settings faster and more accurate. One avenue it explores is AI/ML (artificial intelligence and machine learning — technology that learns patterns from large amounts of data to aid judgments). This contract funds technical support for that work.
The key point is that Noblis's role is SETA (Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance) rather than building the screening AI/ML itself. When a government agency adopts sophisticated technology, it needs expert judgment to define requirements, evaluate technical options, and integrate results from multiple developers. SETA provides that judgment through a neutral expert advisor, helping the awarding agency make sound decisions without becoming tied to any single vendor or technology.
This contract illustrates a common pattern in how the federal government adopts advanced technology: separating the developers of the technology from the advisors who support the government's decisions. The scale — about $3.16 million over roughly three years — suggests an ongoing role supporting the program's operation rather than a one-off prototype. Because the specific technologies and outcomes are not stated in the source data, this explanation focuses on the nature of the contract and its meaning within federal procurement.
Why it matters
When the government adopts advanced technology, the advisors who support its decisions can matter as much as the developers who build the technology. This contract shows how neutral expertise supports procurement decisions in a high-stakes public program aimed at faster, more accurate security screening, offering a useful reference point for how agencies structure the adoption of AI/ML in the public sector.
FAQ
What is SETA support?
Did Noblis develop the screening AI?
What is Screening at Speed?
Sources (primary)
This article is an independent organization based on the U.S. official spending data below. Verify the exact, latest details with the official source.
- USAspending (award details)
- Contract ID (PIID)：70RSAT20FR0000147